Curcumin supplement and nosebleeds?

Have not experienced it personally but turmeric is a blood thinner so it wouldn't surprise me. A quick google suggests you're not the only one who had this problem.

Is the nosebleed always the same side? Have you had it (inside your nose) looked at by an ear/nose/throat specialist?

Usually nosebleeds come from the septum - the cartilage wall that divides the two sides of the nasal passages. There are lots of small blood vessels there, kind of like one's lips. If the septum gets dry, it can form little cracks that bleed, like chapped lips. Keep the nasal passages moist with saline spray if you live in a dry climate. Also don't blow your nose too hard/aggressively, as the pressure can cause small blood vessels to rupture. If it's a big problem, have an ENT doc take a look inside with a small scope to assess.

Did you ever have nose bleeds before taking curcumin? Some people are prone to them, but yes curcumin might make them happen more often *if you are already prone*. Same with other kinds of bleeding. Even though curcumin is not a traditional blood thinner like warfarin, it can act that way in higher doses. The highest therapeutic dose I've ever taken was 2000mg twice daily (total 4000mg, 4g). I remember one time I was replacing a signal light in the back of my car and the old light bulb would just not come out of the socket. I pulled really hard and the light bulb shattered, cutting my finger pretty deep. I was at my full curcumin dose around that time, and it took forever to stop the bleeding. I never bled so profusely from a cut in my life.

If you are at a high curcumin dose, I recommend reducing it to see if that has a positive impact. The important thing to know about curcumin is that it clears the body quickly, within a few hours. That's why twice daily dosing is recommended. It's also why they invented the phytosomal form (Meriva), so that it will last longer in the body. If you are taking a very standard curcumin extract (i.e. not phytosomal), you're taking a relatively low dose (i.e. 1500mg or less per day), or you're not doing multi-dosing per day, then I would say there's a much lower chance that curcumin has to do with your nose bleeds.

mom2toboys and VanJordan -- I never had nosebleeds before taking curcumin and the dose I'm taking isn't really high either. I've been taking LifeExtension Curcumin Elite 500 mg once a day. I just find these nosebleeds quite alarming since they started last year and I've never had them in my life before. I'm in my mid 40s so guess that it mainly has to do with hormonal fluctuations but maybe adding curcumin to the mix is irritating it further. In the past one month, I've had 3 nosebleed days already... and during the 2nd one there was more blood and it was thick / clumpy. I stopped taking curcumin last week so let's see if that helps.

LookingForAnswers7 said...
mom2toboys and VanJordan -- I never had nosebleeds before taking curcumin and the dose I'm taking isn't really high either. I've been taking LifeExtension Curcumin Elite 500 mg once a day. I just find these nosebleeds quite alarming since they started last year and I've never had them in my life before. I'm in my mid 40s so guess that it mainly has to do with hormonal fluctuations but maybe adding curcumin to the mix is irritating it further. In the past one month, I've had 3 nosebleed days already... and during the 2nd one there was more blood and it was thick / clumpy. I stopped taking curcumin last week so let's see if that helps.

Perhaps the obvious answer is to stop curcumin and see if it creates an improvement.

If you've never had nose bleeds before then you should definitely have that investigated. Curcumin may have just highlighted a problem that is newly forming.

I use turmeric daily. I haven't had nose bleed s.
I use Curcumin in particular the ingredient that works on inflammation.
Jump on Google and do your research.
It acts as a natural blood thinner.
I believe it can cause nose bleeds.